2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 603 schools in the United States to see which online undergraduate certificate programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our 2023 rankings named Santa Monica College the most popular school in the United States for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Santa Monica, California, the large public school awarded 3,683 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SMC is $1,146. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,090. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 45% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Utah Valley University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in Orem, Utah, the large public school handed out 2,388 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $6,010 in tuition and fees if they attend UVU full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,092. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
The excellent undergraduate certificate programs at DeVry University - Illinois helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the United States. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out undergraduate certificates to 2,061 students in 2020-2021.
DeVry University - Illinois does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $15,032. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from DeVry University - Illinois accumulate an average of $22,785 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 94% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Boulder, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out undergraduate certificates to 1,970 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,431 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 70% were women.
Around 95% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Full Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts - Boulder Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the fairly large public school awarded 1,329 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,541 in student loans. Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 92% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City
Mesa Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #6 on the list. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school located in Mesa, Arizona that handed out 1,070 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they attend Mesa Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $7,854. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,000 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
Around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #7, Delgado Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, the fairly large public school awarded 1,266 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Delgado Community College does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $4,079. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Delgado Community College accumulate an average of $24,127 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 71% took at least some of their classes online.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private for-profit institution located in San Mateo, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 941 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts accumulate an average of $14,497 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 86% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #9, Merced College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Merced Community College District is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 1,041 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,180 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Merced Community College District. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,444. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Merced Community College District accumulate an average of $9,067 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 97% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in Clearwater, Florida, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,354 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Undergraduate Certificate recipients from UMA Clearwater accumulate an average of $14,327 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 95% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 98% took at least some of their classes online.
Rio Hondo College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Whittier, California, the fairly large public school awarded 948 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend RHCCD full time pay an average of $1,360 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,780. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 30% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #12, College of Western Idaho did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Nampa, Idaho, the fairly large public school handed out 1,163 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,086 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #13, Los Angeles Harbor College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. LAHC is a medium-sized public school situated in Wilmington, California. It awarded 798 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend LAHC full time pay an average of $1,238 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,012. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from LAHC accumulate an average of $11,310 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Estrella Mountain Community College ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Estrella Mountain Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Avondale, Arizona that handed out 917 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Estrella Mountain Community College is $2,070. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,506 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate programs. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is located in Chandler, Arizona and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,019 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Chandler-Gilbert Community College is $2,070. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,854. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $11,982 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 62% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Germanna Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Locust Grove, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 753 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Students from Virginia who attend Germanna Community College full time pay an average of $4,913 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $10,916. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,272 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #17 on the list. This medium-sized private for-profit school is located in Orchard Park, New York, and it awarded 685 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $15,295 to cover tuition and fees at Bryant & Stratton College - Online. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Bryant & Stratton College - Online accumulate an average of $19,595 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 95% were women.
Bryant & Stratton College - Online is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
With a ranking of #18, Grayson College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in Denison, Texas, the small public school awarded 752 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Grayson College is $3,982. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,482. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $7,978 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
South Louisiana Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. South Louisiana Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Lafayette, Louisiana that handed out 1,031 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $4,205 to cover tuition and fees at South Louisiana Community College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,759 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 57% were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 29% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. UMGC is a public institution located in Adelphi, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 538 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $7,704 in tuition and fees if they attend UMGC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,336. By the time they get their undergraduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,847 in student loans. Around 43% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
College of Southern Maryland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an undergraduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. Located in La Plata, Maryland, the medium-sized public school handed out 658 undergraduate certificate awards in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Maryland pay an average of $7,050 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend CSM. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,030. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $13,169 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Yavapai College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate programs. Located in Prescott, Arizona, the medium-sized public school awarded 549 diplomas to qualifed undergraduate certificate students in 2020-2021.
On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $16,583 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Sonoran Desert Institute came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Sonoran Desert Institute is a small private for-profit school located in Scottsdale, Arizona that handed out 432 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $10,950 to cover tuition and fees at Sonoran Desert Institute. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Undergraduate Certificate recipients from Sonoran Desert Institute accumulate an average of $10,010 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 1% were women.
Since Sonoran Desert Institute is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
Rio Salado College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 955 undergraduate certificates in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Arizona pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Rio Salado College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,854. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $17,925 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 39% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 53% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Phoenix College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Phoenix College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 644 undergraduate certificates to qualified students.
Full-time students from Arizona pay an average of $2,070 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Phoenix College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $7,854. On average, undergraduate certificate students take out $18,048 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 70% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top most popular online list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Online Undergraduate Certificate Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular online schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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